Flooding caused by blocked drains has been preventing elderly and disabled people from using their car park, a councillor has raged.

The site is part of Harrogate Court in Hayling Road, South Oxhey, with residents claiming the problem has persisted for "years".

Councillor Stephen Cox said: “There are three drains there.

“Two look like they have trees growing out of them and another looks like it is blocked with an old carpet.

“The resident told me it’s been like it for years.

“It’s hardly surprising that they are clogged and not taking water away.”   

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Watford Observer: Cllr Stephen Cox inspects the blocked drains. Picture: Cllr Stephen CoxCllr Stephen Cox inspects the blocked drains. Picture: Cllr Stephen Cox

He added: “This really affects the residents who live there from accessing their cars in the car park. Most of them are retired and one person is disabled.

“They all struggle with the flooding.”

Cllr Cox was brought on board to help because residents of Harrogate Court were having trouble tracking down the company responsible for clearing the drains.

After contacting Three Rivers District Council and Hertfordshire County Council he discovered that the land was owned by a housing association, Thrive Homes.

He said: “A lady had tried to deal with it herself, but she got passed from pillar to post.

“It’s easy to understand how it happened because when I started the investigation the same thing happened to me.

“It’s like an Agatha Christie mystery in reverse, a sort of who hasn’t dunnit.”

Watford Observer: Left the car park before flooding, right the car park after flooding. Picture: Google Street ViewLeft the car park before flooding, right the car park after flooding. Picture: Google Street View

A spokesperson for Thrive Homes said: “We’re sorry to hear that residents have been affected by the recent flooding in the car park. 

“As owners of the parking area, we are in the process of arranging for the drains to be cleared and we expect the work to be carried out within the next two weeks.

“This should alleviate the blockage and minimise any future flooding.”

This is the second time this year that the block of flats has experienced flooding.

In January flooding occurred, believed to be caused by a collapsed drain, near the block of flats' footpath.

At the time, South Oxhey Cllr Joan King and her husband Cllr Stephen King feared water could have reached the building’s entrance.

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